Scarlett
It was a cold, gloomy morning. The kind of morning that crept into your bones and reminded you just how miserable life could be. I stood in front of the towering gates of Dexter High, dread curling in my stomach. I already knew what was waiting for me on the other side—pain, mockery, and humiliation.
I stared at the school's architecture for a moment. The grey bricks, the cracked windows, the looming towers—it all looked like something out of a horror movie. And for me, it was one. A never-ending nightmare.
With a long sigh, I drew in a deep breath and braced myself. The moment I stepped in, I was swallowed by the swarm of students, all pushing and laughing and shouting. I tried to move quickly, keeping my head low, avoiding eye contact—avoiding trouble.
But trouble didn't need an invitation. It found me anyway.
A sharp force slammed into my back, thrusting me forward and crashing me into a locker. Pain shot up my spine as my books fell to the floor. I groaned, trying to steady myself, but I already knew who it was before I even looked up.
Brianna Lee. Dexter High's queen bee—or more accurately, queen bully.
"Well, well, well…" Her voice dripped with cruel amusement. "My little prey thought she could slip by unnoticed today."
I looked into her dark brown eyes, then let my gaze drift over her perfectly coordinated outfit: short blue pleated skirt, crisp white shirt, cute cross-tie, long white socks, and black loafers. Her glossy brown waves spilled over her shoulders like she belonged in a teen drama. Too bad her heart was rotten.
Right behind her stood her loyal shadow—Bret Willer. Her fake, muscle-headed boyfriend with nothing between his ears but smug grins and cheap cologne.
"I can't believe she actually tried to escape," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Every damn day, and she still hopes."
I closed my eyes for a moment and silently begged the heavens to rescue me. But it seemed they were closed for business today.
"Can we not do this right now?" I muttered, adjusting my glasses that had slipped down from the hit.
Brianna tilted her head and smiled sweetly—a smile that promised nothing good. "Aww, honey. We are doing this every. Single. Day. Until we graduate. I'm never letting you go."
Without warning, she yanked my hair so hard I thought she'd rip it out. I gasped but bit my lip, refusing to cry. That's what she wanted.
Then came the slap. Sharp. Loud. My glasses flew off and hit the floor with a tiny crack.
"Look at her—probably blind now," Bret laughed.
"She probably is," Brianna said with a grin. "Tsk, tsk. Poor Liv. You used to be somebody... but now?" Her fist landed in my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. I doubled over in pain. She leaned in, whispering, "You're nothing. And you always will be."
The bell rang, saving me—for now.
"We'll be back," she hissed before turning away.
As they walked off, I slid down the locker onto the cold floor. I picked up my cracked glasses and held them in shaking hands.
"The things you do for love…" I whispered bitterly.